Help Conserve Loons

The Adirondack Park provides much suitable habitat for breeding loons, but there are still many challenges that facing the population of loons summering in the Park.  Here a few ways that you can help conserve loons and their habitats:

• Preserve Shoreline Habitat – Maintain this important habitat for nesting wildlife and promote the quality of our lakes and ponds.
  
• Keep Your Distance – When out on a lake, be respectful of loons and other wildlife species by observing them from a distance.
  
• Use Non-Lead Fishing Tackle – Lead fishing tackle is a significant cause of mortality to loons and other wildlife species as a result of accidental ingestion.  Please use readily available non-toxic alternatives to lead sinkers and jigs, and spread the word about the impact of lead tackle to wildlife.
  
• Retrieve Fishing Line – Fishing line that has been snagged or cut can entangle loons and other wildlife, often having fatal results.  Please retrieve fishing line while out on lakes and ponds.
  
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – As a consumer, it is especially important to be mindful of the impacts that our everyday choices have on the environment and the wildlife inhabiting it.  Problems from environmental pollution, such as mercury contamination and acid rain due to emissions from coal-fired power plants and vehicles, negatively affect air and water quality.  Reducing our dependency on such resources by conserving energy, recycling of appropriate materials, and being conscious of the impact our local decisions, will help improve the health of our environment for both wildlife and humans.